Park Byung-kyu, Gwangsan District Mayor, "Han River Nobel Literature Prize... Great Joy for Gwangsan District"

2022 Yong-A Cultural Award Recipient Connected with Gwangsan-gu

Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Han Kang at the commemorative photo for receiving the 2nd Yong-A Cultural Award in 2022. [Photo provided by Gwangju Gwangsan-gu]

Park Byung-gyu, the mayor of Gwangsan District in Gwangju, conveyed his congratulations on writer Han Kang becoming the first Korean author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

On the 11th, Mayor Park released a welcoming statement saying, “Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature follows President Kim Dae-jung’s Nobel Peace Prize, marking an award received by a person from Honam. Both individuals’ life journeys share the commonality of being rooted in the May Gwangju events, making this award resonate as a historic thrill,” and added, “For Gwangsan District, the joy is even greater as Han Kang was the recipient of the 2nd Yong-Ah Cultural Award in 2022.”

In this regard, writer Han Kang has a connection with Gwangsan District as the 2nd recipient of the Yong-Ah Cultural Award, which honors the spirit and achievements of Yong-Ah Park Yong-cheol.

At that time, Han Kang expressed her award acceptance remarks, saying, “I had been unable to write for a while, but receiving this precious award gave me the courage to return to writing.”

Mayor Park stated, “Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature provides great strength and inspiration to Gwangsan District, which aims to be a ‘Humanities Gwangsan,’” and added, “I hope Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature becomes an opportunity to deeply root the power of questioning and reflection in South Korea, beyond just a literary celebration.”